i can't reformat a HDD to FAT32 in XP, does anybody know why this is ? is it something to do with the computer it was originally formatted on ?

on Vista i get the option to format to exFAT whatever that is

i want to back up my PS3 before i try to fix it

Google is your friend...

Reformatting External hard drive from NTFS to FAT32

Hey,

As the above link says, in Windows there is a block on formatting anything in FAT32 more that 32gb, which is very annoying! However is it possible to do a work around for this, because i had to do it when i was creating an external HDD for my xBox 360!

Now this was a while ago but i believe that i used a free product call Partition Magic this should let you create a FAT32 formatted drive over 32GB mine was an etxternal 80GB HDD and its worked perfectly for over a year now!

Worth ago! If the above product does not work, i would suggest using google, the answer is out there it just needs to be found lol i had found it but i think i have lost it now hahah

Cheers - Dave

linux live CD and create a partition and then format it.

This will let you do any size and windows XP will address is, just not format it.

done a 30gb partition and an 8gb partition, so should be able to back up the PS3 now, before i launch it down the garden in anger and frustration

Very occasionally get a problem doing this ,and even Fdisk won't do anything .One way I found round problem was to download Seagate /Maxtor ( both samecompany) POWERMAX ,and run "low level format " on the drive -two methods -quick which does start and finish ,or slow which does wholedrive ( i.e writes zeros to drive) - depends on how much data on drive .That then lets FDISK see it as an unpartitioned drive , so you can then set a partition /(s) in Fat 32 .I cheat for formatting -I keep an old HDD with Win98 on it ,and use that to format partition(s) -a lot quicker than doing a Dos format .Possibly a bit of a botch to the pros,but I find when stuck .it works .B eauty of having Powermax on a floppy ,is that you've got a HDD checker if ever your HDD starts playing up -will check basic instal/basic test/full test etc .Don't knowhow it getson with other drives ( never used it on anything but Maxtor/Seagate ) but Ik now it did read a Sansong one I did have in at one time .